Crikey’s AFL Hot Form Chart: Round 20

An eerie synergy has emerged in Crikey’s AFL Hot Form Chart after round 20: the top three Form Chart teams also fill the the top three spots on the AFL ladder. But that’s where the parallels end.

The season’s third draw did neither Brisbane nor Sydney any favours. The Lions now play Adelaide in an unofficial elimination final; and the Swans square off against Collingwood in a match that could leave the loser vulnerable in the top eight, especially if St Kilda can prevail tonight.

The Saints, with players missing through injury and suspension, meet an in-form Eagles outfit. No one actually appeared to see Steven Baker enhance his reputation – already as nasty as the Berlin Wall – at Jeff Farmer’s expense. But what does jus naturale have to do with footy? Baker is out for seven weeks and the Saints tilt as September is looking shaky.

Hawks and Kangas fans will be just a little concerned at their teams’ recent form. The top four aspirants have both dropped out of Crikey’s Hot Form Chart top eight but have winnable games this weekend. The Roos face Carlton, a team not tanking, just haunted by the ghost of Erwin Rommel; and the Hawks take on the Bulldogs who are in a tight battle with Fremantle for the title of this season’s most disappointing team.

And just to top off the penultimate round of home and away fixtures, one plays two at the Cattery on the weekend — a scenario even the most strident of Cats and Power fans would have been unlikely to imagine at season’s dawn.

Form over last 5 weeks

Team

Last week’s form rating

AFL ladder position

Sequence

1

Geelong

1

1

W-W-W-W-W

2

Port Adelaide

4

2

W-W-L-W-W

3

West Coast

7

3

W-W-L-W-W

4

Sydney

2

7

L-W-W-W-D

5

Brisbane

3

9

W-W-W-L-D

6

St Kilda

5

8

W-W-D-L-W

7

Collinwood

10

6

W-L-W-L-W

8

Fremantle

9

13

W-L-W-W-L

9

Kangaroos

6

5

W-W-L-L-L

10

Hawthorn

8

4

L-L-W-W-L

11

Adelaide

12

10

L-L-W-L-W

12

Essendon

13

11

L-W-L-L-W

13

Melbourne

14

14

L-L-L-W-L

14

Richmond

15

16

L-L-L-W-L

15

Bulldogs

11

12

L-L-D-L-L

16

Carlton

16

15

L-L-L-L-L

Columns indicate: Comparative form over the last 5 weeks; Position on form as of last week; Position on AFL ladder; Win/Loss sequence.

Crikey’s AFL Hot Form Tips for round 21 are:

  • West Coast
  • Kangaroos
  • Fremantle
  • Brisbane
  • Sydney
  • Hawthorn
  • Geelong
  • Essendon

Last week: 6

Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Chart: Round 23

The big message being sent by Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Chart after round 23 is a simple one: Here come Rusty’s Rabbits.

Souths not only pushed themselves into the Crikey top four but also accounted for Manly’s minor premiership hopes with a memorable come-from-behind win last Monday night. A victory against the Tigers this weekend would see the Rabbitohs into their first finals campaign for 18 long years — a fairytale indeed for the NRL’s Cinderella Men. 

Fellow Hot Form Chart high-flyers, the Bulldogs, squeaked home against the Broncos to set up the Crikey Match of the Round against Melbourne on Friday night. The winner may end up topping the Form Chart after the home and away rounds, and is sure to take confidence and bragging rights into September.

One team looking unlikely to join the finals party is reigning premiers, Brisbane. The Broncos season has resembled a bell curve: a peak in the middle and troughs at each end. Low playing stocks have seen them slide out of the NRL top eight and right down to 14th on Crikey’s Hot Form Chart.

And that means the pride of Queensland is resting solely with the boys from the tropics. The Cowboys should sure up a top four spot against a Knights team whose armour looks more tarnished by the week.

Form over last 5 weeks

Team

Last week’s form rating

NRL ladder position

Sequence

1

Manly

1

2

W-W-W-W-L

2

Melbourne

4

1

W-L-W-W-W

3

Bulldogs

5

10

W-W-L-W-W

4

Rabbitohs

6

1

W-W-L-W-W

5

Cowboys

8

6

W-L-W-W-W

6

Warriors

2

9

W-W-D-W-L

7

Roosters

3

3

W-W-D-W-L

8

Parramatta

7

4

W-L-W-L-L

9

Dragons

9

13

W-L-W-L-L

10

Canberra

11

7

L-W-L-L-W

11

Penrith

12

14

L-L-W-L-W

12

Tigers

14

16

L-W-L-L-W

13

Titans

15

12

L-L-W-L-W

14

Brisbane

10

8

L-W-L-L-L

15

Cronulla

13

11

L-L-L-W-L

16

Newcastle

16

15

L-L-L-L-L

Columns indicate: Comparative form over the last 5 weeks; Position on form as of last week; Position on NRL ladder; Win/Loss sequence.

Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Tips for round 24 are:

  • Cowboys
  • Storm
  • Titans
  • Roosters
  • Sea Eagles
  • Raiders
  • Rabbitohs
  • Eels

Last week: 4